The next morning, Ryan woke up earlier than usual.
He had barely slept all night. The crumpled flyer was still neatly folded inside his bag. Every time he closed his eyes, the number 100 million flashed clearly in his mind—along with the pale face of Grandma Tia lying in her hospital bed.
After washing his face and putting on the best clothes he owned—a plain shirt that had faded slightly but was still neat—Ryan set off to the address written on the flyer.
The location… was far.
Very far from downtown Surabaya.
He had to take two public minibuses, then a motorcycle taxi, and finally walk along a small road that cut through vast stretches of rice fields. The morning sun had begun to warm the air when Ryan stopped and stared ahead.
In the middle of the endless green fields stood a large, magnificent building.
It towered high, its walls dark gray with huge glass panels reflecting the sunlight. The iron gate was tall and sturdy. Above it, there was no company name.
Only a strange symbol shaped like a circle with crack-like lines across it.
Ryan froze.
"Is… this the place?"
He checked the address on the flyer again. It matched perfectly.
A building this massive… clearly wasn't ordinary.
In his mind, one simple conclusion formed.
If the building looks like this… maybe 100 million isn't impossible.
His heart pounded.
He stepped toward the gate.
Before he could even touch the iron bars, a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged from the guard post beside it. His muscular arms were visible even beneath his black uniform. His gaze was sharp, like he was assessing prey.
"Purpose?" the man's voice was deep and heavy.
Ryan swallowed reflexively.
"I-I… I'm here to apply for the job, sir."
The guard narrowed his eyes.
"Apply? How did you find this place?"
Ryan quickly took out the flyer from his bag and showed it.
The guard glanced at it briefly, then looked Ryan up and down. The stare made Ryan feel small.
"You sure about this?"
Ryan paused.
He remembered Grandma Tia.
He nodded.
"I'm sure."
A few seconds felt like forever.
Then the guard slid the gate open and stepped aside.
"Go in. Lobby. Register at the receptionist."
Ryan could hardly believe he was actually allowed inside.
He walked past the gate, across the spacious and neatly maintained yard. The grass was trimmed short, the pathway spotless. The building felt completely out of place among the surrounding rice fields.
As soon as he stepped through the main doors, cool air-conditioning greeted him.
The lobby was wide and elegant. Polished marble floors, modern chandeliers, tall glass walls. There weren't many people inside.
In the center stood a minimalist reception desk.
A young woman in formal attire sat behind it. Her hair was neatly styled, her expression professional.
Ryan approached awkwardly.
"Excuse me… is there a job opening here?"
She looked up.
"For dungeon exploration?" she asked directly.
Ryan blinked in surprise.
"Uh… yes."
"We are currently recruiting," she said calmly. "But there are several testing stages."
Ryan nodded quickly.
Tests?
No problem.
In his mind, it would probably be physical tests. Carrying heavy loads, running, something like that. The flyer clearly said: must be strong.
He had been working construction for three months. Lifting cement, sand, bricks. His body was far stronger than most people his age.
"I'm ready for the test," he said firmly.
The woman typed something into her computer.
"Name?"
"Ryan."
"Age?"
"Twenty-two."
"Work experience?"
"Construction labor… and odd jobs."
She showed no expression. Just nodded and printed a sheet of paper.
"The test will be held in two weeks. Arrive at nine a.m. sharp. Do not be late."
Two weeks.
Ryan took the paper.
"Understood."
"If you fail to attend without notice, your application will be canceled."
Ryan nodded again.
That was it.
No explanation about the dungeon.
No details about the risks.
Just a date and time.
Ryan left the magnificent building feeling conflicted.
At least… it was real.
Not some WhatsApp scam.
Not some trick asking for registration fees.
They hadn't asked him for any money.
Maybe this was a real job.
Maybe.
Two weeks passed quickly.
Ryan returned to his routine.
Morning: construction work.
Afternoon: lifting cement.
Evening: going home covered in dust.
At night, he ate heartily, fueled by real hunger.
He worked harder than usual. Every swing of his shovel felt like training. Every sack of cement he lifted felt like preparation.
The day before the test, he gathered the courage to ask his foreman for permission.
"I won't be coming in tomorrow, sir."
"Why?" the foreman asked briefly.
"Important business."
The foreman looked at him for a few seconds, then nodded. "Don't disappear for too long."
Ryan thanked him.
That night, he could barely sleep again.
The day of the test arrived.
Ryan woke before dawn.
He showered, wore the same clothes as two weeks ago, and left early to avoid being late.
At eight-thirty in the morning, he was already standing in front of the gate of that grand building.
But this time… the atmosphere was different.
Many people had gathered outside the gate.
Dozens.
Maybe more than fifty.
Ryan froze.
"So… I'm not the only idiot."
He felt slightly relieved.
If many people came, then he wasn't alone in this foolishness.
The gate opened exactly at nine.
The participants were allowed inside and directed to a large hall within the building.
The room was as spacious as a hotel ballroom. At the front, there was a small stage and a large screen.
Ryan sat in the middle section.
The people around him began chatting.
"Where are you from?" asked the man beside him.
"Surabaya."
"Oh, I'm from Sidoarjo. Got that weird flyer too?"
Ryan gave a faint smile. "Yeah."
"At first I thought it was a scam. The sword drawing looked like a kindergartener made it."
Ryan almost laughed.
"And 100 million?" the man added. "Too good to be true."
Two other men in front of them joined in.
"I thought I was the only one reckless enough to come," one said.
"If it's a scam, at least make the design look decent," the other replied.
Small laughter spread among them.
The conversation circled around the same topics.
Where they were from.
What they did for work.
And of course… that strange flyer.
"If it's really a dungeon, does that mean like in the movies?" a bespectacled young man asked.
"Yeah right. Probably just heavy labor with a fancy name," someone replied.
Ryan listened quietly.
He observed the people in the room.
Some looked athletic.
Some were skinny.
Some clearly manual laborers.
Some looked like university students.
Different backgrounds.
One thing in common—
They all needed something.
Money.
Challenge.
Escape.
Ryan slowly clenched his fists.
He knew exactly why he was here.
Not for adventure.
Not for excitement.
But for one purpose.
Grandma Tia's surgery.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent when a side door near the stage opened.
A man in a black suit walked onto the stage.
He looked to be in his forties. Hair neatly styled. Sharp eyes.
He stood at the center and scanned the participants.
"Good morning," his voice echoed through the speakers.
"Good morning…" the response came unevenly.
"Thank you for coming. If you are in this room, it means you received our flyer."
Some participants smiled awkwardly.
"You probably think this is a scam."
A few exchanged glances.
"But I assure you, this is not a scam."
He paused.
"Dungeons are real."
The room instantly went silent.
A few people chuckled nervously, assuming it was a joke.
The man raised his hand.
The large screen behind him lit up.
What appeared on it made Ryan's breath hitch.
A recording.
A massive hole in the ground.
Dark.
Deep.
And from within… something moved.
A strange creature, shadow-like, with glowing red eyes.
Screams echoed in the video.
The footage stopped.
Total silence.
"The first dungeon appeared three months ago," the man continued calmly. "And since then, the world has not been the same."
Ryan felt goosebumps rise along his arms.
This wasn't just heavy labor.
This wasn't some secret project.
This was… something far bigger.
The man looked at them one by one.
"And today… we are looking for people who are either foolish enough… or brave enough… to enter it."
Ryan's heart pounded violently.
Maybe.
Maybe he was a fool.
But if that foolishness was the only way to save the most precious person in his life…
Then he was ready.
Without realizing it—
Today would be the first step that changed his life forever.